Florida escapees in custody, more arrests promised

A tip from a
"close associate" led Florida law enforcement to two men who escaped
prison by way of bogus release documents, and investigators hope to find
and arrest the people who helped the men hide, officials said Sunday.

Charles Walker and Joseph Jenkins, both 34, were arrested on Saturday night at a Panama City Beach motel by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the U.S. Marshall's Service, after a manhunt that spanned jurisdictions and several days.

Advertise | AdChoices

"They had to have had help — and a lot of help — to get to where they
were last night," Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner
Gerald Bailey said at a Sunday morning news conference, according to the
Orlando Sentinel.

If
the men hadn't been caught, a "transport" was on its way to the motel
to take them to another location, Bailey said investigators discovered.
"There will be more arrests," he added.

Both Walker and Jenkins
were sentenced to life in prison on unrelated murder charges, but they
were released when fake court documents alleged their sentences had been
revoked.

Walker was freed from Franklin Correctional Institution in Carabelle,
Fla. On Sept. 27 and Franklin walked from the same prison on Oct. 8.
However, officials did not become aware of the escapes until Walker's
victim's mother notified the state attorney's office on Tuesday after
receiving a letter notifying her that Walker was out of prison.

As a result of the incident, the Florida Department of Corrections
announced Friday that they changed protocol to require
a judge's verification on any order calling for the early release of an
inmate.

Both men visited with their families and followed Florida
law by registering as felons before disappearing. Jenkins' uncle, Henry
Pearson said the family threw Jenkins a birthday party on Oct. 1, but he
didn't show up. "On behalf of our family, I am asking that you turn
yourself in to the nearest appropriate authorities so that we can end
this episode of our lives," he said.

Four hours later, Jenkins and
Walker were arrested peacefully when more than 20 law enforcement
officials descended on Room 227 at the Coconut Grove Motor Inn and
called over a loudspeaker for them to surrender, Bailey said.

Jenkins
and Walker appeared in court Sunday morning, and each was charged with
one count of escape and held without bond until their next court
appearances Friday.

(Nick Wagner/Austin American-Statesman via AP). FBI agents meet at the scene of an explosion in Austin, Texas, Sunday, March 18, 2018. At least a few people were injured in another explosion in Texas' capital late Sunday, after three package bombs deto...

Police have warned residents near the site of the latest explosion in Austin to remain indoors and to call 911 if they need to leave home before 10 a.m.More

Police have warned residents near the site of the latest explosion in Austin to remain indoors and to call 911 if they need to leave home before 10 a.m.More